The National Association of Mango Producers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NAMPPMAN) has pledged to plant one billion mango trees across the country within four years to boost food security.
Prof. Umar Kangiwa, President of the association, made the pledge at the commemoration of World Food Day in Abuja on Friday.
The 2026 theme is “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow”.
Kangiwa said the initiative had been flagged off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that mango trees could generate wealth for successive generations.
He urged the Federal and state governments, development partners and individuals to support the initiative by planting mango trees in homes and offices.
“The programme is going to be on within the next four years. We appeal to the Federal Government to support the initiative; we appeal to development partners to support the initiative and to individuals to plant mango trees in their houses, offices,” he said.
Similarly, Dr Nkechi Okafor, Chairperson of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), FCT Chapter, said food security was achievable with the right policies and actions.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, Okafor said food was essential to human survival, adding that the World Food Day theme required practical action.
She called for gender-friendly agricultural equipment to improve women’s participation in mechanised farming.
Okafor said the tractors currently available through the Agricultural Seed Council could not be operated by women.
“They should produce tractors that can be driven by women.
“I appeal for deliberate innovation that includes women farmers in mechanisation efforts,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Food Day is observed annually on Oct. 16 to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945.
The day also raises awareness of hunger, food security and the need for sustainable food systems.
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